Crowning device for expansion joints



Dec. 20, 1932. A. c. FISCHER 1,891,897

CROWNING DEVICE FOR EXPANSION JOINTS Filed May 13, 1926 Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT G. FISCHER, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO THE PHILIP CAREY MANU- FACTURING COMPANY. A. CORPORQIION OF OHIO GROWING DEVICE FOR EXPANSION JOINTS Application filed lay 13, 1926. Serial 110.1083.

My invention relates in general to expansion joints as used to compensate for expanally by pouring the material in the space.

Another way being to use preformed strips of expansion joint material, and install the same in the space between the concrete sections by supporting the strip on edge and pouring the concrete around both sides of the same. The last mentioned method of producing the joint is perhaps the most practical in the majority of cases. However, difliculty is experienced very often in warm weather in handling preformed joints and installing the same with a straight edge. These difiiculties are the result of the mastic structure of the joint strip yieldin to the effect of high temperature, so that t e strip becomes more or less soft and flabby. I do not mean that ordinary atmospheric conditions in warm weather will destroy the preformed structure of the joint strlp, but in handling the joint it is naturally subjected to strains and stresses, which very often distor-t the same, but after once installed, if the strip is properly constructed, ordinary high temperatures will not destroy its functionlng qualities. 7

To avoid the possibility of the joint becoming misshapen during handling in warm weather I have devised a crowning devlce which will resist the effects resulting from handling the joint in warm weather and enable the joint to be installed with a straight edge.

The salient features of a crowning device of this character are fully explained in my Patent No. 1,588,717, issued June 15, 1926, and Patent No. 1,588,718 issued J une 15, 1926. The present application is a continuation in part of these applications, and includes a i 60 means attached to the crowning device wherearticular reference to a try 1it may be readily engaged by a removing In the present case, as in the two cases referred to, oneobject of the invention is to protect the edge of the strip and reinforce the same. Another object, and perhaps the most important so far as the present case is concerned, is to provide means for developing a rounded, curved or the like edge or, end along parts of the concrete sections which terminate in abutting relation to the joint.

A still further object of the invention is to equip the crowning device with means where by the device may be conveniently pulled off or removed from the joint strip after the strip has been installed.

With these and other objects in view the invention will be further described with reference to the illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

F igure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a joint installation developed with the aid of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the application of a modified form of the inventio Figure 4 is a perspective View of a joint installation developed by the use of that form of device shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a view in section showing the finished joint installation as accomplished by the invention.

Before proceeding further with a description of the drawing I think it best to point out that the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawing have simply been se-- lected as a means of explaining the construction and application of the idea. The drawing in this respect is in the most part more or less exaggerated. Nevertheless it explains the principle involved, and will serve in this respect to clearly show the novel features as pointed out in the subjoining claims.

Referring now to the drawing in detail.

A and B represent portions of a concrete construction, a. roadway as an example, with the spaces between the same equipped with a strip of expansion joint such as 5. This strip having been previously formed from material suitable forthe pur ose, with a length, say of 5 feet, 5 inch t ickness and a 4 or 5 inch depth when standing on end as shown. The strip -'-5- may be oiferedfor sale with the crowning device 6- snugly fitting over the crowning edge 5' thereof, or else the crowning device 6 may be marketed separately and applied to the crowning edge of the strip prior to its installation in the Joint, or just rior to the time when the joint will be su jected to considerable handling, loading or unloading, and after'being delivered on the job.

In manufacturing the crowning device -6 I would suggest that the same be produced from light sheet metal, the same being rolled, stamped, or otherwise formed to produce a channel cap or the like structure, having referably a flat top 7 with downwar 1y depending side flanges -8- and 9, the spaces between the flanges 8- as shown in my Patent No. 1,588,718'above referred to. As heretofore practised in expansion joint installation, the ends of the concrete sections abutting the joint are sim;

ply finished off. The joint in this'respect acts as a moulding abutment, so that the sides of the end wall of the concrete section and the trafiic surface make a sharp corner at the end of the sections. This method and the concrete structure developed by the same is perfectly satisfactory so far as the functioning of the expansion joint is concerned, except difliculties are very apt to arise later on due to the effect of traflic passing over the joint. This frequently results in cracking the sharp corners of the concrete sections, chipping pieces of the concrete off, and as a result of this continued destruction of the concrete corners not only is the functioning action of 7 leaves a bad surface for traflic.

rounded, moulding abutment against which the concrete is formed.

After the installation has. been accomplished the crown may be removed. This will leave a structure somewhat on the order the trafiic. In rea any convenient way, or elseit may be left to lty the space ft by the removal of the crowning device would not be as Large as shown in t e drawing, since, as heretofore pointed out,the drawing is more or less exaggerated in order to conveniently show the installation.

The construction. just. referred to in the preceding paragraiph refers primarily to the forms'shown in igures 3' and 4. .In this connection Iwish to make comparison with the forms shown in Figures 1 and 2. In the latter form the top 7- is made much lower than in the form shown in Figure 3. This would be preferable since it will leave the top 7- of the crowning device flush with the surface of the concrete, so that a finishing machine may have an unobstructed sweep across the same. Of course this would be more or less impractical in the form shown in F igurc 3, due to the factthat the top of the crowning device rojects considerably abovethe surface of tile concrete; while in the forms shown in Figures 1 and 2 there would not be as much of the expansion strip projecting above the surface of the roadway, consequently there would not be as much material to roll down to fill up the crown of the joint, as shown in Figure 4 there will still be a sufiicient amount to fill up the space. If in some cases it is found that there is not enough materialto be rolled out, the insufficiency may be supplied by pouring. This is, of course, more or less immaterial so far as the principle of the invention is concerned.

In order to aid in removing the cap from the joint after the joint strip has been installed, I will use some pulling connection or lifting connection, such for instance as the lugs 10, the same being struck from the metal of the cap in the top 7 thereof and adapted tobe engaged by a pulling tool which may be used as a handle.

s a convenient way of producing these lugs the metal of the top 7 may be cut as shown at 11in Figure 1, with the area within the cut made with a rforation 12. The lug will normally lie flus with the top, so as to be out of the way until it is needed. When the crowning device is to be removed a tool may a pull on the same will raise thelug up, as

refer to make the i be inserted in the perforation 12,

shown in Figure 3, and by continuous ulling thecrowning device ma be remove These lugs may be provi ed at spaced intervals along the top, and are simply illustrative of one way in which the crownin device may be conveniently pulled off wit a tool. Another practical way would be to use only perforations or openings 13, see Figure 1, and engage the same with a tool, as in the case of the perforation 12, Fig. 3.

From the above description it would be readily seen that I can accom lish two important objects with the crowning strip, one being to reinforce the strip so that it may be properly handled prior to installing, and as a second object form the rounded edges in the concrete sections.

I claim:

1. A crowning device for a preformed expansion joint strip, comprising means adapted to embrace and extend laterally from the crowning edge of thestrip and having downwardly depending sides overlying the sides of the strip, and means for pulling the crowning device from the strip after the strip has been installed.

2. In a crowning device for a preformed expansion joint strip, a cap adapted to embrace and extend laterally from the crowning edge of the strip, downwardly depending portions on said cap adapted to embrace the sides of the stri and means on the top of the cap for pulling the cap from embracing relation with the strip.

3. In an expansion jointinstallation includ: ing a preformeds'trip of expansion joint material, means for installing said strip having a straight crowning edge comprising means embracing the crowning edge of the strip and having a downwardly depending concave side wall overlying the side of the strip, and means carried by the installing means for removing the device from embracing relation with the strip.

4. In combination in an ex ansion 'oint including a preformed strip 0 composition material arranged between adjacent pavement sections, a crownin device having depending sides, each of w ich are of less extent than the width ofthe strip for embracing a portion of the sides of said preformed strip, and means carried by the crowning device for pulling same from embracing rela tion with the reformed strip.

Si ned. at hicago, Illinois, this 8th day of ay, 1926.

ALBERT C. FISCHER. 

